Chiaroscuro

A artistic technique where dramatic treatment of light and shadow is a primary element of composion. Chiaroscuro often presents as a single light source focused on human subjects, creating a strong sense of three-dimensional depth. Chiaroscuro amplifies the emotions of an artwork, each artist bringing their own flavor to the technique. Caravaggio used chiaroscuro violently, Georges de La Tour made it meditative, and Rembrandt used chiaroscuro as a lens for compassionately framing his subjects.